Born into poverty

Even in the pre-industrial era, children made a vital contribution to the family economy, whether in the home, on the land or in cottage industries. With the advent of industrialisation, children – particularly those from poor families – were exploited in textile factories as cheap labour. They worked long hours, performed dangerous or hazardous tasks, and were often unable to attend school. From the 1830s, the cantons gradually introduced compulsory education. In 1877, the Federal Factory Act banned children under 14 from working. Nevertheless, children were still kept busy, whether in the home or in agriculture. The exhibition looks at how children in forced foster care and institutions were forcibly taken from their families and made to work. It also highlights those who campaigned for children’s education and protection and considers the topic from a modern-day perspective.

Image (detail): Fetching fresh water from a spring, Unteriberg Schwyz, 1947 © Theo Frey / Fotostiftung Schweiz